Articles for category: Politics

April 16, 2026

admin

BREAKING: First U.S. inventory decline in two months, mainly due to record exports

After eight weeks of uninterrupted increases, U.S. crude oil inventories finally recorded a decline, even despite a larger release of SPR stocks. Although financial markets are anxiously following reports from the Persian Gulf and hoping for a swift peace, the latest data brings some optimism, pointing to strong external demand and a dynamic increase in the U.S. role as a key exporter of the commodity. Even though the geopolitical situation remains tense, investors are hopefully looking for signs of de-escalation that could restore stability in the Strait of Hormuz region. Key EIA report data: Crude oil stocks: decline of

April 15, 2026

admin

US-Iran Agree to Extend Ceasefire, Bitcoin to Rally?

The US-Iran conflict seems to be taking a back seat as the two countries look to extend their ceasefire that was earlier limited to two weeks. Global markets reacted immediately and extended higher as U.S. President Donald Trump previously hinted the war is close to an end. US-Iran War Ceasefire to Extend For Another 2-Weeks According to reports from the Associated Press, Washington and Tehran have agreed to prolong the ceasefire for another two weeks. Earlier, the ceasefire was to end on April 22, which had the international markets on its toes. The two countries have provided “in-principle agreement” to

April 15, 2026

admin

“WE GOT HIM!,” Trump declares after U.S. airman rescued deep inside Iran, as strikes on power plants loom

The CMA CGM Kribi, sailing under a Malta flag and operated by French shipping company CMA CGM, became possibly the first vessel with links to France to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran effectively closed the vital shipping lane, according to the MarineTraffic website. The ship departed waters off Dubai Thursday and arrived Friday off Muscat, Oman, MarineTraffic data showed.  The vessel’s path through the strait, according to MarineTraffic’s tracking data, indicates that it took a northerly route, traversing a narrow gap between the Iranian islands of Qeshm and Larak — the latter of which analysts say Iran

April 15, 2026

admin

Indē Wild’s Record-breaking Sephora NYC Pop-Up Marks Major U.S. Expansion Milestone

indē wild, the global beauty brand rooted in Ayurvedistry, has set a new benchmark in retail engagement with the world’s largest prestige beauty retailer, Sephora, hosting its biggest pop-up of 2026 and drawing over 5,000 consumers to the iconic Sephora 5th Avenue store.    The excitement began long before doors opened, with fans starting to line up as early as 7:00 AM for the 2:00 PM event. By the time the pop-up began, over 5,000 people had gathered, with queues stretching across multiple city blocks for a chance to experience indē wild and meet founder Diipa Büller-Khosla. The event marked

April 15, 2026

admin

U.S. says blockade of Iranian ports “fully implemented” as Trump weighs more talks with Iran

Tracking data appears to show a number of Iran-linked ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the hours after the U.S. blockade of the waterway began on Monday. The U.S. military said its blockade would apply to “all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports,” but that it would “not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.” One ship that crossed the strait after the blockade began on Monday – the Christianna – had previously been stopped at the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, data shows. Another ship, the

April 15, 2026

admin

‘Closer to a break than ever’: Can NATO survive if Trump pulls the US out? | NATO News

Donald Trump’s disdain for NATO allies dates back to even before he became United States president the first time. From anger over their relatively low defence spending to — more recently — threats to take over Greenland, the territory of fellow NATO member Denmark, the American leader has long left the alliance on edge. But the decision of NATO allies not to join Trump’s war on Iran has deepened the fracture to unseen levels, say analysts. This week, Trump called their lack of support a stain on the alliance “that will never disappear”. Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany put it

April 15, 2026

admin

Energy secretary says US headed ‘in wrong direction’

Energy Secretary Chris Wright raised eyebrows today after saying the country “looks like we’re going in the wrong direction” in remarks hailing a new natural gas pipeline project. Speaking at a ground-breaking for a project that will transport natural gas from Pennsylvania into New York City and Long Island, Wright said President Donald Trump “is about driving down costs for Americans and driving up job opportunities and wages for Americans”. Moments later, Wright apparently misspoke as he said, “Just because it looks like we’re going in the wrong direction doesn’t mean that’s the direction we are going”. The Energy Department

April 15, 2026

admin

Trump’s cuts worked. He rightsized bloated federal workforce

April 13, 2026, 4:31 a.m. ET The second Trump administration has had few bright spots, but one stands out: its effort to tame the federal bureaucracy. In the first year of Donald Trump’s second presidency, the federal workforce shrank by 10%. That follows a sharp rise under the Biden administration – and even during Trump’s first term, the number of federal employees grew across four years. A chaotic rollout masked what is, for the most part, good policy. The federal government continues to run much as it always has, and most Americans haven’t noticed a difference. Trump 2.0 shrank the

April 15, 2026

admin

No ships ‘make it past US blockade’ in Hormuz strait in first day: Pentagon | US-Israel war on Iran News

CENTCOM contradicts reports on ships breaking blockade as Trump says US-Iran talks could resume in the next two days. Published On 14 Apr 202614 Apr 2026 The Pentagon says no ships “made it past” the United States military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz in its first 24 hours and six merchant ships followed orders to turn around. The statement on Tuesday from the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) was the first update since US President Donald Trump announced the blockade of the waterway after US-Iran talks over the weekend in Pakistan failed to yield an agreement on ending the

April 14, 2026

admin

As Iran war rages on and oil prices rise, Trump says U.S. “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left”

Israel’s military said Thursday that it had struck “dozens of headquarters, weapons storage facilities, launch sites, and anti-tank missile positions” belonging to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon over the last 24 hours.  The IDF said it would continue to “operate decisively against the Hezbollah terror organization” in Lebanon “to remove the threat posed to Israeli civilians.” Israel rapidly stepped up its operations in Lebanon in parallel with its joint strikes with the U.S. against Iran, as Hezbollah joined Iran in launching retaliatory missile and drone attacks at Israel.  Israeli forces had launched raids into southern Lebanon for years, during